Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-31
THE NEW RAILROAD.
Engineers Examine the Route in Tyler and
Wetzel Counties.

Engineers Examine the Route in lyle ana
wetzel Counties.
MessGs. Thomas Pettigrew, OF Parkers-
burg, and T. NJ. Jackson, of Clarksburg,
civil engineers, last week travelled over the
various routes between the Harrison COM
ty coal fields and the Ohio River road,
with view 10 ascertaining the most
practical location for the new railroad
which is shortly to be hnilt as feeder to
the Ohio River road They left Clarks-
burg in a buggy and travelled down the
west fork of the Mouongahela to the mouth
OF Big Bingamon. They traversed that
stream and examined the gaps between
it and Fishing creek. They proceeded
down the latter stream to New Martinsvile,
and from there came over the divide and
down Point Pleasant to Middlebourne.
Here they were Joined on Thursday after
noon by A. Il. Smith and J. w. Barnes,
who went with them over the route up
Point Pleasant and PurSley to Sistersyille.
They staid there Thursday night, and on
Friday morning examined the Cow House
run zap and Others south Of the pike, ar
irving at NiddlebOurne again tor dinner.
Here they were Joined by Hon. W. ]. Bore
man, and G.. ID. Smith and b. Engle,
Esqs., who went mp the creek with them
as far as Shirley. From there on to the
head of McElroy they were piloted by cit
liens along the route, VINO showed them
the gaps and pointed ont the topography
and resources Of the country.
The engineers were instructed simply TO
examine the gaps and take observations,
and until their report is made nothing fur
ther can be known as to the road. 1t was
aScertained, however, that of the two
routes enthusiastically. the Fishing
creek and the Middle island route-the
chief difficulty with the former will De st
the eastern end and with the latter at the
western or river end. The route up
Bingam0u is very difficult and the divide
between that stream and Fishing creek is
more than three hundred feet high. The
headwaters of Fishing creek fall very
rapidly for few miles, and the rOute for
perhaps half the distance would be diff
cult
OO tue Otucf haDut tuC iOutC up ACh
Mile creek and over the divide between 1T
and McElIOy would be an easy One. and
the route between BingamOn and McElroy,
while more difficult, would still be much
easier than the descent to Fishing creek.
The route down McElrOy and Middle
Island would be a very easy one 10 Mid
dlebOurne, and the route up Point Pleas
ant and Pursley would also he easy until
the river hill il reached. The divide be-
tween Point Pleasant aud Fishing creek
is also over three hundred feet, making it
very difficult to get from MiddlebOurne TO
New Martinsville.
To get over the river hill at any Of the
points examined would require tunnel.
The engineers sSS that there are two or
three places where they could get down
the hill, hut on the whole they seemed to
think the Cow House run route the most
practicable. The pike at the top of the
river hill is three bundled and forty feet
higher tbas Sistersyille, but by means of n
| tunnel the road cOdlS re built there.
The road will he built 10 hSui aGt heavy
loads, and if good grades can be found so
/ ing west it will not so much matter if the
grades are sleeper going East.